Street sign



Aug. 2, 1932. H. c. GATCHE LL STREET SIGN Filed May 2, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 2, 1932. H. CQGATCHELL 1,869,474

STREET SIGN Filed May 2. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 2, 1932. H. c.GATCHELL 1,869,474

STREET SIGN Filed May 2. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1932- H. c. GATCHELL1,869,474

STREET S IGN Filed May 2, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,Zkaerzr' Patented Aug.2, 1932 (UNITED STATES PATENT orriee HELEN c. GATCHELL, or CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T visiBLn N'IGHT-AND-DAY STREET-NAME SIGNS,INCORPORATED, or onIcAeo, rumors, A conronnrrion or ILLINOIS STREET:SIGN

Application filedMay 2, 1929. Serial No. 359,938.

This invention relates to street signs and the like, 'and'moreparticularly to-means for supporting the signs in a desired position onlamp posts.

' One of the primary objects is to provide a device of durable andinexpensive construetion, which will permit ready attachment to a postand which will enable the signs to be adjustably supported at thedesired distance from the post. Other objects and advantages will appearas the description proceeds.

The invention is fully described in the following specification andshown in the accom panying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a brokensectional view, in elevation, of a lamp-post globe and the sign supportembodying my invention, the section in the above figure being taken asindicated at line 1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a plan sectional 2.0 view, thesection being taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1 F ig; 3 isadetailed view=of a supporting arm, part of said arm being shown inelevation and part in section, as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4is a detailed view, in elevation, of a supporting arm and clampingsegment, the arm being shown in section, as indicated at line 4 of Fig.2; Fig. 5 is a detailed view, in end elevation, of sign frames, the viewbeing taken from line 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a view, in elevation, of"the inner sides of the sign frames; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of aportion of the sign frames and signs carried therein; Fig. 8 is a brokensectional view showing a downwardly curved supporting arm; Fig. 9 is abroken sectional view showing a straight supporting arm.

In the illustration given, the sign support includes a segmentalclamping member 1, supporting arms 2 and sign frames 3.

' The segmental clamping member 1 is shown applied to a globe supportingmember A, whlch serves to secure a globe B upon a lamp post C. Itcomprises a number of segments 4, which are provided at theirextremities with perforated flanges 5. The flanges of adjacent segmentsare secured to each other by means of bolts 6. The clamping member 1 maybe constructed of any desired material, such as, for example, cast iron.In the type of construction shown, the clamping member may bereadily-adjusted to fit posts of I varying diameters; also, if desired,the shape of the inner face of any of the segments 4,

may be designedto conform to the contour of the post to which member 1is to be applied. The clampingmember 1 may be applied to the globesupport A, as illustrated, or, if desired, directly to any portion ofthepost.

' The arm support 2 consists of an inner part 7, whichis preferablyformed integrally to with one of thesegments 4 and is provided with alongitudinal slot 8, and it consists also of an outer part-9, which isprovided with a perforation 10. I Slot 8 and perforation 10 arelocatedin portions of the parts which are adapted to 'make slidingcontact with each other. Thebolt'll is adapted to pass through the'slot'8' and perforation 10 and to secure the two parts in adjustablerelation.

'Theouterapart' 9 islalso. provided withha '70 vertical reinforcing rib12'and' has a furcated outer end, which is'provided with perforatedflanges 13. As illustrated, the V-point of the furcated flanges 13 isbuttressed by the ver-' tical rib 12. i i

The inner part of'the arm 2 is provided, at. its sides, with-verticalflanges 14;: also the outer part. 9 is provided laterally with flanges15, which engage. the outer face of flanges 14, preventing angularhorizontal '80 displacement of the arm 2. Thus the contacting surfacesof the parts 8 and 9, and the telescoping or'contacting flanges 14 and15,'serve to give the arm 2 rigidity, irrespective of the position towhich it has been adjusted. The arms may be of any suitable material,such as, for example, cast iron.

Frames 3 may likewise be constructed of cast iron or other suitablematerial; Each of the frames'has a bottom side 16, two" side wa-lls 17.and a front side 18. The front side 18 has its major portion cut away,leaving only a frame border to engage the sign. Retaining lugs 19 maybedisposed, at suitable intervals, along the side walls 17 and bottom 1side 16. Spring fingers 20 are also preferably employed to make contactWith the sign and to hold it firmly against the front side or frameborder 18. The spring fingers or clips 20 may be secured to'flanges 21with upon the post.

which the side walls 17 and bottom side 16 are provided. If desired, aclip 22 may be secured to the front frame border 18 to prevent removalof the sign.

As illustrated in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, a small sign 23, bearing additionalinformation, may be supported below the main sign frame 3, in a frame 3,which is preferably similar in form and construction to frame 3. Frame 3may be secured to frame 3 in any desired manner. As illustrated, theside walls of frame 3' are secured to perforated flanges 24:, with whichthe bottom side 16 is provided, by means of a perforated L-shapedbracket 25 and screws 26. As shown in Fig. 7, the flange 21, bearing thespring finger 20, serves to retain the small sign 23 within the frame 3.

Bracing members 27 may be employed to hold the frame members 3 in thedesired inclined position. 'As illustrated, bracing members 27 havetheir end portions 28 turned back at an angle so as to provide a bearingsurface against the top portion of the side walls 17. The members 27 maybe secured to the frames 3 by any suitable means, such as, for example,screws.

- In assembling the supporting device, the clamping member 1 is openedby removing one or more bolts 6 from the one ormore segments 4 andplaced about a post. 'When raised to the desired height, the missingbolts are replaced within the perforated flanges 5 and nuts screwedthereon to tighten the clamping member. The nuts on the several boltsmay be adjusted to give the desired grip The arms 2 may then be extendedto the proper length and fixed rigidly in position by tightening bolts11. Ready adjustment of the arm 2 is permitted by slot 8 of the innerpart of the arm 2. The ends of frames 3 are then brought into contactwith the flanges 13 of the arm 2 so that the lower side of the end walls17 of two adj acent frames 3 make contact with the inner sides of theflanges 13. The lower end walls may be secured to the furcated flanges13 by means of screws or the like. The upper ends of the side walls 17of the adjacent frame member 3 are secured together by bracing member27, the angularly disposed ends 28 of the bracing member being heldagainst the sidewalls by means of screws or the like. The signs" may beplaced within the frame members 3, either before or after the supportingdevice has been placed in the desired position. In the case of the smallsign 3, it is preferred to place the sign within the frame beforesecuring the frame 3 to frame 3, since, in the construction shown, theflange'21 serves as a stop to prevent the removal of sign 23 from frame3*.

The signs supported by the frames 3 may be constructed of glass or anyother suitable material. However, it is preferred to employ a lightpermeable material and to support the signs within a field ofillumination so that the light passing through the signs may make themmore visible from the street.

Also, if desired, the clamping member may be secured to a support abovethe globe, and the arms 2 may be curved downwardly to hold the frames 3at the elevation desired. While in the illustration given, the signs aresupported at a point somewhat below the light, it is apparent that thesigns may be supported in a position above, parallel to or below thelight globe by the means disclosed. The arm 2, and preferably the outerpart 9 thereof, may be curved upwardly or downwardly to support the signin the desired position with respect to the clamping member 1.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character set forth, a post-engaging member, meansfor securing said member to a post, a plurality of signs, arms connectedto said member and adapted to support said signs in the desiredposition, said arms comprising inner and outer segments having surfacesadapted to make sliding contact and having also telescoping flanges, andmeans for adjustably securing said arm segments in the desired relation.

2. In a device of the character set forth,

a post-engaging member, means for securing said member upon a post, aplurality of sign frames, arms connected to said post engaging memberand adapted to support said sign frames in the desired position, saidarms being provided at their outer ends with a pair of angularlydisposed flanges adapted to engage the lower portions of the ends ofadjacent signs, means for securing said flanges to said sign frames, andbracing members connecting the upper end portions of said frames.

3. In a device of the character set forth, a post-engaging member, meansfor securing said member upon a post, a plurality of signcarryingframes, signs carried by said frames, arms connected to saidpost-engaging member, having their outer ends furcated, means forsecuring the furcated ends of each arm to a pair of sign-carryingframes, and a bracing member connecting the upper end portions of saidframes.

1. In a device of the character set forth, a post-clamping member, to,sign-carrying frames carried by said arms, signs carried by said frames,means for securing the ends of said arms to the lower portions of theends of adjacent sign-carrying frames to secure ends together, and abracarms secured thereing member secured to the top portions of the endsof said frames.

5. In a device of the character set forth, a post-engaging membercomprising more than two clamping segments and means for drawing saidsegments together, telescoping ra dial arms having their inner endssecured to said segments, a plurality of sign-carrying frames connectedto the outer ends'of said arms, and light permeable signs carried bysaid frames.

6. In sign-carrying frames, the combination of a large frame equipped atits bottom wall with a flange, resilient means supported by said flangeand adapted to bear against a sign in said frame, with a smallersign-carrying frame, a sign carried by said smaller frame, and means forsecuring said smaller frame to the bottom wall of said larger frame,

said flange serving to prevent the removal of the sign from said smallerframe.

7. In a device of the character set forth, a post engaging membercomprising a plurality of clamping segments, each of said seg mentshaving formed. integrally therewith a single supporting arm, said armhaving telescoping parts, a plurality of sign-carrying frames supportedupon the outer ends of said arms, light permeable signs carried by saidframes, and means for drawing said clamping segments together.

8. In a device of the character set forth, a post-engaging membercomprising a plurality of clamping segments, each of said seg mentshaving formed integrally therewith and near its center a single radialsupporting arm, means for drawing together the ends of said segments, ,aplurality of sign-carrying frames having their ends supported inadjacent relation by the outer end portions of said arms, and aplurality of signs carried in said frames. T p 7 9. In a device of thecharacter set forth, a post-clamping member comprising a plurality ofclamping elements, each of said elements consisting of a curved bandequipped at its ends with out turned perforated flanges and a radial armformed integrally with said band, said arm comprising inner and outersegments secured together in slidable relation, means for drawingtogether the ends of said clamping elements, and sign frames carried bysaid arms.

10. In a device of the character set forth, a post-engaging member,means for securing said member to a post, a plurality of signs, armsconnected to said member and adapted to support said signs in thedesired position, said arms comprising inner and outer segments havingsurfaces adapted to make sliding contact and one of said segments havingU shaped flanges: embracing the sides of said other segment, and meansfor adjustably securing said arm segments in the desired relation.

11. In a street sign, the combination of a street lamp, with a supporttherefor, a supporting unit comprising a plurality of separate clampingelements, each having a rigidly mounted, radially extending arm, andthreaded means for securing said clamping elements about said support,and a sign unit comprising a plurality of radial, inwardly extendingarms, adapted to slidably engage the arms on said supporting unit,.saidinwardly extending arms having outwardly extending flanges forsupporting sign frames, sign frames having certain corners secured tosaid flanges, signs carried by the frames, and means for securing theother corners of said frames together, one of each pair of said armsbeing provided with an elongated slot and having guide flanges forengaging the other ofthe pair of arms, and securing means for therespective pairs of arms passing through the slots and engaging the armsto secure them in'position.

12. In a device of the character set forth, a post-engaging member,means for securing said member to a post, a plurality of signs, armsconnected to said member and adapted to support said signs in a desiredposition, said arms comprising inner and outer segments having surfacesin sliding contact, and

means for adjustably securing said arm segments in the desired relation.

13. In combination, a plurality of light permeable signs, frame memberscarrying said signs and having their ends adjacent,

adjustable arms having their outer ends supporting the ends of saidframes and having their inner ends formed integrally with seg

